Truss.



BATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

s. H. Plums:

TRUSS.

APPLIG'ATION FILED 001210, 1902.

no MpnEL.

lgagljfar V PATENT iatented September 15, 1903.

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SOLOMON n. PniLLIs, or PANA, ILLINOIS.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 738,842, dated September 15, 1903. Application filed October 10, 1902. Serial 110.126,?46. (N model.)

citizen of the United States, residing at Pana,

in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trusses, and has for its object the production of a truss which will readily and automatically respond to the different motions of the body of the patient without displacing the pad with the minimum of chafing and friction and at the same time provide for the patient retaining control of the adjustments of the parts and of the degree ofpressure of the pad or pads and also of the location of the pressure-points of the same.

The invention consists in a flexible belt yieldably connected independently of the hernia-pad, whereby the movements of the body of the patient will not disturb or displace the pad.

The invention further consists in a flexible belt having a hernia pad adjustably connected thereto and with yieldable means between the pad and belt whereby the pad may be adjusted independently of the belt and the belt rendered movable independently of the pad.

Further novel features of the invention will appear in the annexed description and be specified in the claims following.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure l is a perspective view of the device complete. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the hernia-pad and its means of attachment to the supporting-frame. Fig. 4 is a modified form of belt connection.

The flexible belt for encircling the body of the patient is illustrated at and is of the usual construction, being provided with a buckle 12 to render it adjustable. This belt 10 may be of any suitable material usually employed in devices of this character. Partially encircling the belt 10 is a metallic band 13, preferably of spring-steel, and connected to the flexible belt at suitable intervals by staples 14, having their leg members inserted through the belt and clenched upon its interior, as indicated at 15. The ends of the spring-plate 13 will preferably be riveted to the belt 10, as indicated at 16, the springplate thus inclosin g a portion only of the flexible belt, the spring-plate being of sufficient resiliency to cause the flexible belt 10 to be supported upon the body of the patient with out chafing or undue friction, while at the same time the staple attachments let permit a certain degree of longitudinal movement between the parts 10 13 and prevent undue cramping or stiffness to the belt. The belt 10 is provided with two or more straps 17 for the attachment of any suitable suspension means whereby the belt may be suspended from the shoulders of the patient.

Any number of the suspension-straps 17 may be employed, as required; but generally two will be sufficient, as shown, and spaced apart to any required extent.

The hernia-pad is indicated at 18 and may be of any of the ordinary structures employed for this purpose and of any suitable shape, according to the circumstances or as may be required by the condition of the patient. The hernia-pad will. be connected yieldably to the belt, so that the belt will be independently adjustable automatically with relation to the pad. Thus the pad will not be disturbed by the various movements of the patient. The hernia-pad is supported upon a substantially U -shaped frame having the lower portion 19 and the spaced side members 20 21 terminating in loops or eyes 22 23, preferably extend= ing transversely to the side members, as shown. This frame will preferably be formed of steel wire of a gage sufficiently large to withstand the strains to which it will be subjected.

Connecting the side members 20 21 adjacent to the portion 19 is a transverse brace member 24, having eyes 25 26 upon its ends, movably embracing the side members 20 21, the brace member 24 thus being spaced apart from the portion 19 of the supporting-frame.

The pad 18 will engage the inner sides of the parts 19 24, as shown, and will be clamped in place thereon by a clamp-plate 27 and screw 28, the screw passing through the clamp-plate and into the pad, as shown. The clamp-plate 27 is provided with transverse channels engaging the wires 19 24, as shown,

and when the screw 28 is set up it is obvious that the pad will be frictionally clamped to the framework and may be readily adjusted longitudinally of the members 19 and 24 by loosening the screw 28 to move the pad to the position required upon the patient. It is also obvious that the pad 18 may be very readily detached and replaced by a pad of different form or size, as may be required, or a pin:

. tively to the belt, consisting of the members rality of pads may be attached to the same frame, the pad or pads being readily adjustable to any desired angle with relation thereto.

Connected to the spring-plate 13 are rods 29 30, the lower terminals of the rods being provided with eyes 31 32, similar to the eyes 22 23 upon the members 21, and adapted to movably enclasp the latter, as shown, the rods 29 also passing through the eyes 22 23, so that the rods 29 30 are longitudinally movable upon the members 21 22 and guided in their movements by the eyes.

The upper ends of the rods 30 29 are sus-.

pended from the spring-plate 13 by loops held in place by clips 33 34, each clip engaging the looped end of one of the rods 29 30 at one end and the adjacent staple 14 at the other, by which means the rods 29 30 are immovably connected to the spring-plate 13.

The clips 33 34 are preferably formed of light spring-steel, so that while firmly holding the parts 29 30 in place they will yield when the parts are to be disconnected. The clips have their ends folded backward upon the body of the clip, as shown,and make a very easily applied and simplemeans of connection between the parts 29 30 and the belt 13.

Between the eye portions 22 31 and 23 32 springs 35 36 are disposed and adapted to exert their force to maintain the parts 20 29 and 21 30, respectively, in their distended positions, so that the pad 18 will be maintained normally at the farthest point from the belt.

To prevent the pad-supporting frame from moving too far away from the belt and to limit its movement in this direction, flexible loops 37 38 are arranged between the belt and the members 20 21, the loops being preferably flexible cords of suitable texture to withstand the strains to which they are subjected, or of malleable wire, as they are required to readily yield to the upward movement of the members 20 21, as is obvious.

The framework for supporting the pad rela- 20 21 and 29 30, is curved inwardly with reference to the belt and the portions 19 24 are maintained at an angle to the belt, so that the pad 18 will be supported in an upwardlytrending position, as indicated in Fig. 2, thus exerting its force in an upward direction, which is a very desirable feature in devices of this character, as the object of the device is to support the affected parts from below and exert an upward pressure thereon.

The supporting-framework will be formed of wire possessingsufficient resiliency to cause the pad to maintain its place, exert adequate pressure on the affected parts, and resist the strains due to the movements of the body.

It will be noted that the belt is free to move toward or away from the pad 18 without affecting or displacing it. It will also be noted that the two sides of the supporting-frame are independently movable, so that the patient will be free to move his body to any required extent, as no movement of the body will disturb the pad, while at the same time the pad is maintained by the resiliency of the supporting-frame in proper place.

The whole device is very simple in construction, easily applied and adjusted, and not liable to become disarranged or broken, as the metal parts may be constructed of steel of suitable size to resist all strains to which they will be subjected, while at the same time sufficiently resilient to enable the device to readily and automatically adapt itself to the person of the patient.

The supporting-rods 29 30 may be spaced apart to any desired extent and located at any desired point upon the belt, as the staples 14, to which the clips 33 34 are connected, may be readily adjusted to any point upon the belt, and thus correspondingly adjust the clips. This is an important feature of the inyention and adds materially to the efficiency of the device, as the location of the pad 18 may be thus readily adapted to the location required without disturbing the position of the belt and the supporting means 17.

In applying the device the supportingframe will be located in proper position to bring the pad 18 to the required point and the rods 29 30 then attached to the belt, the staples 14, which come nearest to the clips 22 24, being utilized, as above noted, for securing the clips, thus permanently connecting the pad and supporting-frame to the belt and so adapting the device to the patient without changing the position of the belt.

The spring-band 13 is preferably provided with means for adjusting it longitudinally relative to the belt, an improved means for accomplishing this adjustment being illustrated in Fig. 1, consisting in dividing the band into two parts and forming aslot 39 in one part and inserting a clamp-screw 40 in the other part, disposed to operate through the slot, as shown.

When the divided spring-band is employed, the rivets 16 will be detachable, similar to the catches 14, so that they may be adjusted to correspond to the adjustment of the slot 39 and screw 40. By this simple means the belt member may be more readily adjusted to different-sized patients and the efficiency of the device and the comfort of the patient greatly increased.

The parts may be modified in minor details without effecting the principal of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In place of the slot-and-pin adjustment 39 40 for the band 13, as shown in Fig. 1, the

modification shown in Fig. 4 may be employed, consisting in a ferrule or thimble 4E1, inclosing the overlapping portions of the spring-band and crimped in position thereon.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a truss, the combination with a belt, of a supporting-frame carried by and extending below the belt, said frame having spaced side members each made in two sections movably engaged longitudinally, a herniapad sustained wholly by the frame, and means for yieldably connecting said side members independently to the belt.

2. In a truss, the combination with a belt, of a supporting-frame carried by and extending below the belt, said frame having spaced side members each made in two sections movably engaged longitudinally, springs interposed between the sections of the side members, and a hernia-pad sustained wholly by the frame.

3. In a truss, the combination with a belt, of a supporting-frame carried by and extending below the belt, and comprising spaced sidemembers and a horizontal connecting member, a hernia-pad sustained wholly by the frame and adjustably mounted on the horizontal connecting member, and means for securing the pad in its various adjusted positions.

4. In a truss, a belt, a frame having spaced side members yieldably connected to said belt, a transverse brace member movably connected to the side members, ahernia-pad movably engaging one side of said transverse brace member and frame, a clamp-plate movably engaging the opposite side of said brace member and frame, and a screw adj ustably uniting said elamp-plate and pad to said brace member and frame, substantially as described.

5. In a truss, a belt, a frame having spaced side members terminating in eyes, a herniapad connected to said frame, rods having eyes in one end movably engaging the side members and like wise movably engaging the eyes of said side members, means for connecting said rods to said belt, and means for yieldably connecting said rods and side members, substantially as described.-

6. In a truss,'a belt, a frame having spaced side members terminating in eyes, a herniapad connected to said frame, rods having eyes in one end movably engaging the leg members and likewise movably engaging the eyes of said leg members, means for connecting said rods to said belt, and springs disposed between. said rods and leg members and adapted to exert their force to maintain said frame in its distended position, substantially as described.

7. In a truss, a flexible belt, a spring-plate connected to said belt longitudinally, a hernia -pad, a supporting-frame for the herniapad having spaced side members connected to said spring-plate, said side members being longitudinally yieldable, whereby said belt and its spring-plate are independently movable with relation to said pad, substantially as described.

8. In a truss, a flexible belt, a spring-plate connected to said belt longitudinally, a supporting-frame having spaced side members, a hernia-pad connected to said frame, spaced rods connected to said spring-plate by one end and movably connected to said spaced side members by their other ends, and springs disposed to maintain said side members and rods relatively distended, whereby said belt and its springplate are movable independently of said pad, substantially as described.

9. In a truss, a flexible belt, a spring-plate connected to said belt longitudinally, a supporting-frame having spaced side members, a hernia-pad connected to said frame, spaced rods movably engaging said side members and terminating in loops engagingsaid springplate, and clips connecting said loops of said spring-plate, substantially as described.

10. In a truss, a flexible belt, a spring-plate engaging said belt longitudinally, staples embracing said spring-plate and with their -leg members passing through the belt and clenched thereon, a supporting-frame having spaced side members, ahernia-pad connected to said frame, spaced rods movably engaging said spaced side members and terminating in loops engaging said spring-plate, and clips each connected by one end to one of said loops and by the other end to one of said staples, substantially as described.

11. In a truss, a flexible belt, a supportingframe having spaced side members, a herniapad connected to said frame, spaced rods movably engaging said side members by one end and connected to said belt by their other ends, springs disposed to maintain said side members and rods relatively distended, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement be tween said side members and rods, substantially as described.

12. In a truss, a flexible belt, a supportingframe having spaced side members ter1ninating in transversely-disposed eyes, a herniapad connected to said frame, spaced rods connected by one end to said belt and engaging the eyes upon said side members and terminatin g in eyes transversely disposed and movably engaging said side members, springs disposed to maintain said side members and rods relatively distended, and flexible connections between said belt and said side members, whereby the longitudinal movement between said side members and rods will be limited, substantially as described.

13. In a truss, a flexible belt, a spring-plate connected to said belt; means for adjusting said spring-plate longitudinally relative to the belt, a supporting-frame distant from the plate and a h ernia-pad movably engaging said frame, substantially as described.

14. In a truss, a flexible belt, a spring-plate connected to said belt and divided into two parts overlapping at their adjacent ends with a slot in one part and a cIa-hip-scfety in the .1 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as other part operating through said slot, wheremy own I have hereto aflixed my signature in by said spring-plate may be adjusted longithe presence of two witnesses.

tudinally relatively to said plate, in eombi- SOLOMON H. PHILLIS. 5 nation with a supporting-frame carried by WVitnesses:

said belt, and a hernia-pad movably engag-- J. E. REESE,

ing said frame, substantially as described. J. S. VEEDER. 

